PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Andrei Malinovschi AU - Christer Janson AU - Pia Kalm-Stephens AU - Kjell Alving AU - Lennart Nordvall TI - Increased exhaled nitric oxide predicts new-onset rhinitis in asymptomatic children DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 1698 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1698.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1698.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Background: The fraction of nitric oxide in exhaled air (FeNO) is increased in rhinitis and asthma. Recent studies have reported that high FeNO levels in asymptomatic subjects can predict later onset of asthma. No studies have analysed if increased FeNO in asymptomatic subjects can predict later onset of rhinitis.Aim: To investigate in a cohort of schoolchildren if increased FeNO levels at the age of 13-14 years predict new-onset of rhinitis within a 4-years period.Methods: A total of 959 randomly selected schoolchildren, aged 13-14 years, answered questions on respiratory and allergy symptoms, family history of asthma. Lung function and FeNO were also measured at baseline. A follow-up with the same questions was performed four years later. After exclusion of subjects with asthma or rhinitis symptoms at baseline, 555 participants were eligible for the present study.Results: Subjects with new-onset rhinitis (n=92) had a trend of higher FeNO than subjects who did not develop rhinitis (p=0.06). Increased FeNO predicted new-onset rhinitis in a multiple logistic regression model (p=0.009) and the risk of new-onset rhinitis was 2.4-fold (1.2, 4.4) elevated if FeNO > 90th percentile of all included subjects (n=555). A similar risk increase for new-onset rhinitis, 2.4 (1.2, 4.9) was found in subjects with no allergy symptoms and 2.3 (1.04, 5.1) after further excluding subjects with a family history of asthma.Conclusion: Increased FeNO levels predicted new-onset rhinitis in this population-based study of schoolchildren. The predictive value in subjects without allergic symptoms or family history of asthma suggests that these children with increased FeNO should be tested for allergy and followed-up.